Little Rock doctor pleads guilty in 'pill mill' caseLITTLE ROCK — A doctor accused of knowing about and concealing from authorities the illegal distribution of controlled substances in Little Rock has pleaded guilty. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that 45-year-old Shawn Brooks pleaded guilty Tuesday to a reduced charge of misprision of a felony, which is having knowledge of a felony. Prosecutors say Brooks wrote illegitimate prescriptions for 156,630 hydrocodone pills and 125,546 Xanax t...

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESSThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Hector School Board mulls bumping up first payrollHECTOR — The Hector School Board began its regular meeting Monday with a facilities and grounds tour to observe areas in need of drainage work and repairs needed in the middle school building. The tour was completed only moments before torrential rains entered the area. Denice Alvis of the faculty Personnel Policy Committee presented a proposal that the district’s first monthly payroll of the school year be issued on August 20 rather than wait...

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BY STEVE LEAVELL sleavell@cswnet.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Session sets stage for later fight on road fundingLITTLE ROCK — No matter what happens when Arkansas lawmakers meet this week to take up the governor’s highway funding plan, one thing is clear: This won’t be the end of the debate over how to pay for the state’s road needs. With time running out to build consensus and an election year climate that makes tax hikes a tough sell, the special session that begins Thursday will likely focus on a short-term plan to tap into Arkansas’ surplus and gene...

Residents can access tremendous resourceA lot of Russellville residents don’t know all that goes on behind the doors at Public Works. Sure, when it rains hard and a part of the city floods, call Public Works. If a traffic light goes out, call Public Works. When a city-owned vehicle breaks down, call Public Works. There is also the Public Works GIS (Geographical Information System) department, directed by Duke Trimble. A former employee at City Corporation, the city’s water and sewer...

Law enforcement heroesLITTLE ROCK — Last month in Hot Springs Village, Angela Andrews sent invitations to a birthday party for her son, Toxey. The Mom invited 21 of Toxey’s friends to celebrate over a bonfire, hot dogs, cake and ice cream. This was a big day. Toxey was turning 10 years old. On the day of the party, however, Toxey was crestfallen when none of his friends arrived. According to his mother, the 10-year-old was overwhelmed and disappointed, saying, “I j...

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Gov. Asa Hutchinson columnThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Cahoon wins Brown Service Leadership AwardOne question changed Arkansas Tech University student Jenna Cahoon’s perspective on college and life. Cahoon took it to heart when, during a sociology class, Dr. Sean Huss asked, “Why, as college students, aren’t you doing more to help others?” Without a good answer, Cahoon set about serving as a change agent. She is a founding member and has served as chairperson of Because We Can, a registered student organization that has one purpose: to he...

RJHS bands receive highest ranking at recent regional assessmentThe Russellville Junior High eighth and ninth-grade bands both received the highest ratings possible for concert band performance at a regional assessment. Both bands received First Division Superior Ratings from all four of the judges who rated their performances at the Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association Region IX concert band assessment, which took place at The Center for The Arts. “The kids worked very hard and we are very proud...

Foster wins Jim Ed McGee Award at Arkansas Tech UniversityMatthew Kyle Foster is the recipient of the 2016 Jim Ed McGee Award as the most outstanding graduate student at Arkansas Tech University. An alumnus of Alma High School and resident of Russellville, Foster was presented with his award during the April 19 Arkansas Tech Graduate Council meeting at Tomlinson Hall. Foster earned a Master of Science degree in emergency management and homeland security from Arkansas Tech in May 2015. He has been emp...

Brockinton and Burnett receive certificate from National League of Junior CotillionsTwo students of the Russellville chapter of the National League of Junior Cotillions had winning essays. The students were asked by cotillion director, Joan Caughman, to write an essay about a teacher they have who exemplifies what it means to have good manners and to treat students with honor, dignity and respect. MacKenzie Epperson and Luke Covington wrote their essays about their teachers, Katy Brockinton and Marci Burnett. They surprised t...

Obituary: Rita MillerRita Miller DARDANELLE — Rita Joan Miller, age 76, of Chalybeate died Friday, May 13, 2016. She was born Feb. 11, 1946, to Chesley C. and Hilda J. Millard. She was a farmer and had worked in the grocery business for several years. She is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Bobby Ray Miller of the home; two sons and daughters-in-law, Steven and Julie Miller of Chickalah, and Shannon Miller of Russellville; a daughter and son-in-law, Sta...

Obituary: Cynthia BrownCynthia Brown Cynthia Brown, 58, of Russellville died Thursday, May 12, 2016, at the Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock. She was born Sept. 4, 1957, in Russellville to William Daniel and Lucille Ewton Harris. She was a homemaker and a member of the Gateway Pentecostal Church of God. She was preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers, Lawrance Hearing and Danny Harris. Survivors include her husband, Johnnie Thomas Brown; one s...

Obituary: Margaret HeathcockMargaret Heathcock Margaret Heathcock, 87, of Russellville died Saturday, May 14, 2016, at Stella Manor. She was born Sept. 29, 1928, in Atkins to Emmett Leland and Lola May Clemons Bewley. All arrangements are pending by Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville. A complete obituary will be published in a future edition of The Courier. The obituary is available online at www.shinnfuneral.com.

Community people: Paula Stamps and Harvey YoungRussellville Symphony Guild member Paula Stamps (left) stands with Harvey Young who is a sponsor and member of the Conductor’s Club that brings in the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra for their annual concert in Russellville. Young helps sponsor this event each year in memory of his wife, Claire Young. Also sponsoring this year’s event was Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, of Russellville. They are also members of the Conductor’s Club.

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THE COURIER / Joshua MashonThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Cove Landing majority against annexationEven though 26 people attended Thursday’s informational and fact-finding meeting about the possibility of Cove Landing being annexed by the city of Russellville, nearly every resident made it a point that they were opposed to any talk of annexation at City Hall. Alderman and former Mayor Bill Eaton made sure the one-hour meeting didn’t get out of hand. When Cove Landing board member Jane Witherell asked for a show of hands of who was for annex...

Obituary: Billy FoxBilly Fox CLARKSVILLE — Reverend Billy Gene Fox was born July 11, 1935, in Winding Gulf, W.Va., and passed away Thursday, May 12, 2016, in Clarksville, at the age of 80. He was a retired pastor and brick mason. Mr. Fox is preceded in death by his wife, Betty Ray Berry Fox; his parents, Ralph Edward Fox, Lillie Grimmett Fox and Genessee Grimmett Fox; a son, Jeffrey Kent Fox; three brothers, John, Wayne and Harold Fox of West Virginia; and two s...

Johnson Regional HCAPPS scores hit top 25-percentJRMC recently scored in the top 25-percent of HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) Scores. The scores for the HCAPPS comes from the patient surveys completed upon discharge from the hospital. “We are so proud to achieve this level of customer service compared to other hospitals. To be in the top 25-percent in the nation for customer service for the first time for us is quite an accomplishment for a hospital...